AIADMK leadership crisis: No choice but to appoint Palanisamy as CM, says Swamy

"Sasikala will continue to be the leader even if she is in jail and there are many legal options which have to be explored yet. But the fact of the matter is that Palaniswamy should be the chief minister and that there should be no delay," he added. Photograph: (AFP)

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The BJP leader said if OPS failed to prove his majority, then Edapadi K Palanisamy should be appointed chief minister of Tamil Nadu

Claiming that Tamil Nadu acting chief minister O Panneerselvam did not have the support of enough MLAs to stake claim to form the state government, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said if OPS failed to prove his majority, then Edapadi K Palanisamy should be appointed the chief minister of the state.

"Yes, he (Palanisamy) met him (Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao) and gave him a list of majority of the MLAs and with signatures and Panneerselvam has not been able to give any list as usual. So, the Governor has no alternative than to invite Palanisamy to form a government without any delay," Swamy told ANI.

He further said that Palaniswamy should be the chief minister and that there should be absolutely no delay.

"Sasikala will continue to be the leader even if she is in jail and there are many legal options which have to be explored yet. But the fact of the matter is that Palaniswamy should be the chief minister and that there should be no delay," he added.

The complaint against late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and Sasikala was first filed by Swamy in 1996.

Palanisamy met Governor Rao yesterday evening and claimed to have the support of 126 MLAs. He has handed over the list of MLAs to the governor.

However, Panneerselvam has sought time to prove majority and two members from his camp are set to meet Governor Rao soon.

Sasikala was sentenced to prison for four years in the case by the Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday and will not be able to stand for elections for six years after she is released from jail. She will serve three years and six months in jail as she had already served six months in 2014.